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Speaker shootout update; aggressive treble eliminating some (fairly?)

I've been trying out speakers in a complicated shoot out, both bookshelves and towers — all in my home with my gear. I'm looking for speakers obtainable up to about $4k but could go up (or down) a bit if the right thing came along.

Basic facts: All speakers were run in at least 100 hours. Room is 27 x 14 x 6.5 ceilings. Powering with all QS tubes, 60w, NOS, tube R2R dac, and decent cables. No terrible reflection points; room not overly live or dampened. REL R 328 sub available but I did most listening without it.

Recent auditions, type:

Klipsch RP 600-M (budget singleton of the group)
Fritz Rev Carbon 7 mk II (bookshelf, 2 way, soft dome)
Focal 936 (tower, 3 way, inverted metal)
Martin Logan Motion 60s XTi (tower, 3 way, AMT)

Coming soon:

Salk SS 6M (bookshelf, 2 way, beryllium)
Dynaudio Evoke 30's (tower, 3 way, soft dome)

Let me speak just to the problems, rather than what was good about the speakers. So far, I've found the Klipsch, Focal, and especially the Martin Logans were all too bright — forward, aggressive, "turn it down" treble.

The ML's were the most impossible to tame and hardest to listen to on more tracks. (I did a lot of hanging of towels and other dampeners and other soft things to try to see if I could bring them to heel. I varied the recordings used. Changed cables/wires. No luck.)

The Focals were occasionally too bright; their bigger problem was a bit too much energy in my small listening space. They were better when I plugged their ports with socks.

I'm looking forward to how the next two speakers sound. The Dynaudio towers, I notice, are 10 inches shorter and half the weight of the other towers; not sure what that might mean, but it could just be right size for my space. I'm looking forward to seeing if the Salks bring more detail to the treble without also being too rolled off or harsh.

Hearing is very personal for physiological and taste reasons. However, if anyone has any thoughts about why I might be experiencing some of the phenomena I am (harsh treble, especially) based on my room or gear, etc., that might help me understand factors I'm not fully appreciating. Thanks.


hilde45

Showing 7 responses by lalitk

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
@hilde45,

I recommend Tannoy’s Stirling loudspeakers. They may be bit out of your budget but i think they are everything you’re looking for. Speak to Kevin at Upscale Audio and see if he can arrange in-home audition.

In addition, consult with GIK Acoustics for some basic treatments. You get no pressure expert advise and the panels are quite inexpensive.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
+2 on the burn in process. Whereever it’s possible, I always opt for burn-in offered by cable manufacturers. I don’t normally sit down for any critical listening before 200hours burn-in mark.

My rig is wired with Audio Envy’s OCC copper loom and I couldn’t be any happier. They ended my quest for best possible cables for my system.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
@hilde45,

With low ceiling, you may wanna consider low profile stand with your bookshelf speakers, 

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa2ggb-custom-oak-speaker-stands-free-usps-priority-shipping-spe...
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
“..except MC is not being forthcoming because on his thread about his new speakers he indicates he will be making various thus far undisclosed modifications so it does not appear to be etched and done at all”.

@mapman,

You’re spot on with your post about millercarbon.....if his new speakers as he says perfect he wouldn’t have grand plans to modify them in three phases.

We all know the old saying "You get what your pay for".
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
“No piece of gear, be it speakers, dac, amplifier, is at his true potential right out of the box without means implemented to embed them in these 3 dimensions...Thinkin that any piece of gear is what it can be right out of the box, without any work at all to embed them in the room, in the house, and with all the other gear, it is ignorance pure and simple....

Some knows that, most dont even understand what i speak about.....”

@mahgister,

One look at your system and we get exactly what you speak of, just because most of us don’t go to the length of ‘Frankenstein’ our systems does not mean we don’t know what these three dimensions you often preach here. Give it a rest please and I mean no disrespect to what you have accomplished with your system! 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
@hilde45,

Check out the bookshelf speakers in this video, if the sound impresses you then you may pursue the speakers at Taylorspeakers.com.

https://youtu.be/kgaUQO4lvII

http://taylorspeakers.com

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,683 posts
 
@hilde45,

This hobby is all about the pursuit of perfect sound that best suited for your ears, associated electronics and the room.

As @mapman pointed out, Nobody ever said good sound was easy to achieve, it’s a journey to that pursuit and you my friend off to a good start. So don’t give up 😊
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